Hygienic douche system

ABSTRACT

A hygienic douche apparatus wherein a nozzle adapted for insertion into a vaginal passage and a cooperating fluid holding container are provided. The container includes a separate compartment therein to hold a compound which is soluble in a fluid such as water and, when dissolved, forms a hygienic douching fluid. The compound includes an ingredient which reacts with water to evolve a gas to pressurize the container and dispel the hygienic douching fluid through the nozzle. The compartment includes means operable from outside the container to initiate contact between the liquid and the compound. The apparatus is also adaptable to be used with an enema-type nozzle to provide a convenient readily dispensible enema.

United States Patent 1 Murray et al.

[ Mar. 18, 1975 I-IYGIENIC DOUCHE SYSTEM [76] Inventors: Jerome L.Murray, 652 First Ave.,

New York, NY. 10016; Frances R.

Gardiner, 43 Park Rd., Sparta, NJ. 1

Related U.S. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 231,336, March2, 1972, Pat. No. 3,756,236, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.197,848, Nov. 11, 1971, Pat. No. 3,756,230.

[52] U.S. C1 206/219, 128/225, 206/5,

206/84, 222/386.5 [51] int. Cl. 365d 81/32, B65d 31/12 [58] Field ofSearch 206/47 A, .5, 84, 56 AA;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,469,501 10/1923 Dollin169/32 2,566,823 9/1951 Cariffe 128/225 2,695,236 11/1954 Barton 426/1162,925,171 2/1962 Eaton 206/.5

3,019,459 2/1962 Ripley 9/321 3,095,291 6/1963 Robbins 206/47 A3,209,977 10/1965 Lewis et a1 229/35 R 3,246,959 4/1966 Brewer 206/843,339,802 9/1967 Weiner et a1. 206/47 A 3,576,644 4/1971 Anderson ct a].426/191 Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Curtis, Morris & Safford [57] ABSTRACT A hygienic douche apparatuswherein a nozzle adapted for insertion into a vaginal passage and acooperating fluid holding container are provided. The container includesa separate compartment therein to hold a compound which is soluble in afluid such as water and, when dissolved, forms a hygienic douchingfluid. The compound includes an ingredient which reacts with water toevolve a gas to pressurize the container and dispel the hygienicdouching fluid through the nozzle. The compartment includes meansoperable from outside the container to initiate contact between theliquid and the compound. The apparatus is also adaptable to be used withan enema-type nozzle to provide a convenient readily dispensible enema.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHAR 1 81975 1 71 51 sum 2 mi 2 FIG.2 2

HYGIENIC DOUCHE SYSTEM This application is a division of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 231,336, filed Mar. 2, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No.3,756,236, which application is a continuation-inpart of copendingapplication Ser. No. l97,848, filed Nov. ll, I97], now US. Pat. No.3,756,230.

The present invention relates to hygienic douche systems and more inparticular to an improved hygienic douche wherein the douching fluid isejected from a nozzle at a controlled pressure which is generated withinthe system itself.

It has been found that the ideal pressure from the douche nozzle formost effective and safe cleansing action during douching should bemaintained below about 2 p.s.i. and most preferably about 1 to 1.5p.s.i. Pressures in excess of this may cause harmful bacteria which maybe present in the vaginal area to be flushed into the uterus and mayincrease the chance of infection. Too much pressure may also causephysical damage as well. Consequently, it is recommended, when using themost popular type of douche apparatus, i.e., a bag to hold a douchesolution with a tube leading from the bag to a nozzle, that the bag beheld at shoulder height, approximately 23-24 inches from the nozzle.This results in a pressure head of about I p.s.i. However, it has beenfound, that due to the inconvenience of holding the bag at shoulderheight when using a device such as this, most users hang the bag fromthe most convenient place available, which for a bathroom would be ashower rod, and thus develop a pressure head at the nozzle in excess of2 p.s.i.

Other types of douche apparatus utilize a collapsible bag which ismanually compressed by the user to create sufficient pressure on thedouche solution in the bag to eject the solution through the nozzle.With this type of apparatus, the same difficulty is also encountered inthat there is no control of the precise pressure which is developed andtypically more than the desired 1 to 1.5 p.s.i. is developed by theuser.

Similar problems are inherent in devices presently used to administerenemas in that enema administering devices also fail to provide anyeffective and safe method of controlling the pressure at which the enemasolution leaves the enema nozzle.

In other types of douche apparatus, a pressurized container is utilizedto eject the douche solution through a valve system leading to theejection nozzle. While such devices are less cumbersome to use, noprovision is made to control the pressure to a safe level and thevalving systems are needlessly complex and expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconvenient, safe and effective apparatus which is adaptable toadminister both douches and enemas.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus toadminister douches and enemas in which the release pressure of thedouche or enema solution is carefully maintained at a safe and effectivelevel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatusto administer douches and enemas which is of simple and sturdyconstruction and ofa convenient size for storage and ready use.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anapparatus to administer douches and enemas which is exceedingly simpleto use and which does not entail complicated or difficult procedures.

These and other objects and advantages will be more readily apparentafter consideration of the following specification and drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing the apparatus ofthe present invention in a storage position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section showing thenozzle in position and the apparatus in use;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5-7 are perspective views of various embodiments of the powderenvelopes which may be utilized in the present invention.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there isshown the douche apparatus 10 of the present invention in a storageposition including an open top vessel or container 12, preferably ofamolded plastic material, closed by a removable cap member 14. Thecontainer 12 includes a neck portion 16 which is open as at 18 and whichis provided with an external screw thread form 20 adapted to cooperatewith an internal screw thread form 22 in the lower portion 24 of capmember 14.

The container 12 may be of any desired exterior shape for convenientstorage and preferably includes a necked down portion 26 for easygrasping by the user. For the preferred embodiment of a douching orenema apparatus shown herein, dispenser container 12 may have aninternal fluid capacity of approximately one quart although it is to beunderstood that any fluid capacity may also be provided if desired.

The cap member, see FIGS. 2 and 4 as well, is also preferably of amolded plastic material and includes a top wall 28 which is integralwith the depending lower portion 24 of cap member 14. The dependingportion 24 is provided with an internal screw form 22, as noted above,to cooperate with the threaded portion of the neck of container 12.Thus, when the cap 14 is threadably engaged on container 12, the lowersurface 30 of top wall 28 abuts against the upper edge 32 of container12 to seal the open top of the container and form a fluid type barrierto retain liquid within container 12.

A fluid passage 34 is provided through the cap member 14 and is definedby an axially oriented cylindrical bore segment 36 which intersects witha laterally oriented cylindrical bore segment 38 communicating with afluid exit port 40 in portion 24 of cap 14. Thus. fluid communication isprovided between the exterior of the cap 14 and the interior ofcontainer 12.

In use, see FIG. 2, the shank portion 42 of a douche nozzle 44 fitstightly within and is snugly retained in exit port 40 so that acontinuous fluid passage is provided from the interior of container 12through the fluid outlet port 40 and through the nozzle 44. Nozzle 44 isof standard construction and includes a central longitudinal fluidpassage 46 extending through the shank and into a bulbar portion 48which includes longitudinal rib members 50 with a plurality of outletapertures 52 provided in the bulbar portion 48 between the raised ribmembers 50.

Provision to store the nozzle within the container when the apparatus isnot in use is also provided and includes a plurality of arcuateextending segments 56 (see FIG. 3) which depend from lower surface 30 oncap member 14 and which are spaced and oriented to fit snugly within thefluid passage 46 in the shank 42 of nozzle 44. Thus, a friction fit ismaintained between the depending segments 56 and the nozzle to snuglyretain the nozzle in a storage position disposed within container 12when the cap member 14 is engaged thereon.

To use the douche apparatus, cap 14 is removed from the container 12,nozzle 44 is withdrawn from its engagement on the underside of cap 14and inserted within outlet port 40 so that a continuous fluid passage isprovided from the interior of container 12 to the fluid outlet apertures52 in the bulbar portion of the nozzle. The shank 42 of the nozzle isadapted to fit snugly within outlet port 40 and to be tightly retainedtherein to preclude leakage of fluid when the apparatus is in use.

After cap 14 is removed from container 12, the container is filled witha suitable liquid, such as water, and cap 14 is reassembled so that thewater within container 12 can react with a suitable compound which, whendissolved in water, provides an aqueous physiologically inert douche orenema solution. The com pound also includes an effervescent ingredientto react with the water and generate a gas to pressurize the containerto drive the fluid through the fluid passage within cap 14 and thenthrough the nozzle 44 and out the fluid outlet apertures 52 therein.

Accordingly, a compound receiving chamber is provided which is initiallysealed against the fluid within the container 12 but which can beselectively opened to allow the water within the container to react withthe compound.

Thus, cap 14 is provided with an integral housing 60 depending from theunderside 30 of wall member 28 of cap member 14. Housing 60 may be ofany crosssectional configuration but for the embodiment shown herein ispreferably rectangular in cross-section and ineludes opposed dependinglateral side walls 62 joined to opposed depending longitudinal sidewalls 64. Walls 62 and 64 along with surface 30 of cap 14 define anenclosure 66 which is open at one end as at 68.

Slidably disposed within enclosure 66 is a housing 70 comprising opposedlateral side walls 72 interconnected by opposed longitudinal side walls74 and including an end wall 76 integral with each of the pair of sidewalls 72 and 74. The outer periphery of housing 70 is dimensioned to fitsnugly within housing 60, for example with a friction sliding fit, sothat housing 70 may be readily moved with respect to housing 60. Theside walls 72 and 74 are longer than side walls 62 and 64 of housing 60and thus extend beyond the open end 68 of housing 60 and a removable endcap member 78 is provided to snugly telescope over the open end 80 ofhousing 70. Thus, the side walls 72 and 74 and end wall 76 define achamber 82 which is closed by end cap 78 to accommodate the douchecompound, as will be explained more fully hereinbelow.

A rod-like member 84 is formed integral with and extends from end wall76 of housing 70 and is slidably disposed within a through bore 86 inend wall 28 of cap member 14 and is provided with a contact button 88 onits free end. Pressure on the contact button 88 is transmitted throughthe rod-like member 84 to housing 70 to slide housing 70 relative toouter housing 60 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shownin FIG. 2.

End wall 76 of housing is provided with a plurality 'of fluid accessports 90 and fluid access ports 92 are also provided within the sidewalls 62 and 64 of housing 60. In addition fluid access ports 94 areprovided in the side walls 72 and 74 of housing 70. The access ports 92and 94 are oriented so that when the housings 60 and 70 are oriented inthe position shown in FIG. 1 the lower portion of the side walls 72 and74 are closed to fluid communication from within the container 12 byside walls 72 and 74 of the housing 70 and access ports 94 are closed tofluid communication by the side walls 62 and 64 of housing 60. In likemanner, access ports 90 are closed to fluid communication because of thejuxtaposition of the end wall 76 against the end wall 28 of cap member14.

When button 88 is depressed to move housing 70 to the position shown inH6. 2, end wall 76 is moved past the access ports 92 and access ports 94are moved past the termination 68 of the side walls 62 and 64. Thus,fluid communication is afforded from the interior of container 12 to theinterior of chamber 82 with the flow of fluid being through access ports92 and 90 at one end of chamber 82 and through the now exposed accessports 94 at the other end of the chamber 82.

Preferably, provision is made to abort the flow of douche solution oncethe reaction is started if it is found desirable for any reason todiscontinue ejection of the solution through nozzle 44. Thus, an abortvalve assembly 89 is provided within cap member 14 to divert the flowoffluid from fluid passage 34. Abort valve assembly 89 includes anaccess passage 91 affording fluid communication between passage 36 andthe exterior of the cap. A manually operated slide member 93 having anaperture 95 therein is slidably disposed within a channel 97 within capmember 14 and is movable from a first position where the solid portion99 of slide 93 effectively seals passage 91 to a second position wherethe aperture 95 is in register with passage 91 to afford fluidcommunication between the interior of container 12 and the exteriorthrough passage 91.

Because passage 91 when it is open to fluid communication provides ashorter unrestricted flow path for fluid dispelled from container 12,fluid will have a tendency to flow out passage 91 rather than outpassage 38 and nozzle 44. Hence, once the reaction is initiated andslide 93 actuated from its blocking position to its fluid passageposition, fluid will be diverted from its normal path through nozzle 44to the abort valve passageway 91.

According to the present invention, the ingredients which when dissolvedin a liquid such as water to form an aqueous solution are packaged in anenvelope and are premeasured to react with a predetermined quantity ofwater, for example one quart of water. Included in the ingredientswithin the envelope is an ingredient to provide a cleansing action fordouching and, also, an ingredient to provide an effervescent effect tobuild up the internal pressure within container 12 to completely ejectthe volume of liquid in the containerthrough the nozzle 44. Necessarily,this ingredient releases a physi ologically inert gas when reacted withwater and the ef fervescent effect should preferably be sufficient tocompletely dispense the volume of water stored in container l2 andmaintain between 1 to p.s.i. pressure.

While it is to be understood that many ingredients may be selected toprovide the cleansing function for douching, it has been found thatgranulated sodium bi carbonate is particularly effective as a lightdouche solution and anhydrous citric acid when dissolved in water in thepresence of sodium bicarbonate has been found to be particularlyeffective to provide the effervescent effect. For the illustration ofthepresent invention described herein, where the volume of water withincontainer 12 is approximately one quart, it has been found that thecombination of ingredients made up in the ratio of about 5.88 grams ofsodium bicarbonate to 7.35 grams of citric acid provides a desirable andeffective douche solution which releases gas when reacted in water tofully dispense one quart of water at the desired pressure and havesufficient gas pressurization to provide a gas blow by" after all thefluid has been ejected from the container.

It has also been found that to avoid problems associated with compactingthe two ingredients into a single tablet or capsule and also to prolongthe shelf life of the compounds to avoid the propensity of the sodiumbicarbonate to absorb moisture from the citric acid, it is best tosegregate the sodium bicarbonate from the citric acid. Accordingly, theenvelope package containing the ingredients is provided with means tosegregate one compound from the other.

Also, in order to maximize the speed of the reaction and completelydissolve the sodium bicarbonate and the citric acid means must beprovided to ensure rapid and complete contact of the ingredients by thewater within container 12.

With reference to FIG. 5, wherein there is shown one embodiment of thepackaged envelope for the ingredients of the present invention, it isseen that the envelope 100 comprises three panels 102, I04 and 106 of apaper membrane, for example tea bag paper such as 9% Berkshireheat-sealed paper, grade 1069 made by Kimberly-Clark, or the like, whichare heat sealed around a substantial portion of the perimeter, as at108, to form a pouch having two compartments 110 and 112. One of theingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate. is placed in one pouch 110 andthe other ingredient, such as citric acid, is placed in the other pouch112 and the open side 114 of the envelope is then closed, for examplewith a water soluble cement, to form the completed partitioned envelopewhich may be suitably packaged with a number of prepared envelopes foruse.

An important factor in controlling the speed of the reaction and themaximum pressure attainable to dispel the liquid is to control the rateof contact between the ingredients and the water when chamber 82 is opento liquid communication. In the embodiment described hereinabove suchcontrol is accomplished by limiting the size of opening in side 4 ofenvelope 100. Thus, the size of the opening is selected to allow for acontrolled reaction rate between the ingredients and the water so as toavoid immediate total contact between the ingredients and the water yetprovide sufficient contact to sustain a controlled rate of reaction.

An additional factor to be considered is that the preferred membrane forenvelope 100, Le, tea bag paper, has the property of being initiallywater porous but once wet the paper resists water flow therethrough.Hence, upon contact of envelope 100 by the water there is an initialflow of water through the membrane to initiate the reaction but afterthe membrane is completely wetted substantially all conatct between theingredients within envelope 100 and the water occurs through the openside 114 of the envelope after the water soluble bond has dissolved topermit the envelope to open.

As noted above to use the apparatus of the present invention, cap 14 isremoved from container 12 and the container filled with water. Thenozzle 44 is inserted within the outlet port 40, the housings 60 and arepositioned as shown in FIG. 1 to preclude fluid flow to the interiorchamber 82, end cap 78 is removed from its telescoped position overhousing 70, an envelope with the ingredients in separate compartmentsand 112 is placed in chamber 82 and end cap 78 placed thereover toensure a fluid tight seal. Screw cap [4 is then engaged over container12 and the apparatus is ready for use. No reaction occurs untilactuating button 88 is depressed to move the interior housing from theposition shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 to allow waterfrom within container 12 to enter chamber 82.

The water upon contacting the ingredients within envelope 100 throughthe porous membrane begins to react to evolve carbon dioxide. Watercontacting envelope 100 also dissolves the cement bond along side 114 ofthe envelope and the gas pressure building up within the envelope opensthe mouth of the envelope to allow more intimate and full contact withthe water which is now completely flooding chamber 82 to ensure completedissolving of both the sodium bicarbonate and the citric acid tomaximize the efficiency of the reaction and ensure that the liquidwithin container 12 is completely dispensed.

With reference now to FIG. 6, an alternate construction for the envelope1000 is shown. Construction of the envelope 10011 is similar to theenvelope 100 shown in FIG. 5 in that three porous membrane panels 102a,104a and 1060 are joined to form separate compartments 110a and H211 andafter the compound is placed in the respective compartments the threepanels are joined by a heat seal 108a around their periphery. In orderto ensure sufficient intimate contact between the powdered ingredientsand the water the membranes 102a and 106a are perforated with aplurality of small perforations 116. The perforations 116 aresufficiently small so that the powdered ingredients within the envelopel00a are contained within the envelope but are sufficiently large toensure adequate water penetration to the interior of the envelope tocompletely react with the ingredients and to allow flow of liquidthrough the membrane.

With reference now to FIG. 7 an alternate embodiment is shown whereinthe envelope 100!) comprises separate pouches 120 and 122 to providecompartments 11017 and lb for the ingredients. Pouches 100 and 122 maybe joined along a common panel, as at 124, and one of the separatepouches 122 is provided with an extending flap member 126 which isfolded over the adjacent pouch I20 and bonded thereto by a small dab ofwater soluble cement 128. Thus, when the envelope 1001) comes in contactwith water, the initial contact of the water with the ingredients inpouches "0b and [12b releases sufficient gas to open the flap 126 afterthe dab of water soluble cement l28 has been dissolved. With flap 126forced open by the escaping gas, intimate contact of the liquid with thepowdered ingredients within the envelope l00b is assured.

The present invention provides an apparatus to administer a hygienicdouche or enema in a manner which is safe and simple and wherein thepressurization of the douche or enema solution can be controlled below apredetermined maximum level without requiring any attention or controlof the user. In addition, the apparatus is convenient to use in that theapparatus may be prepared for use by enclosing a package of ingredientsin a sealed chamber and no reaction occurs until the user activates theapparatus. Once activated the reaction proceeds rapidly and the fullcontents of the liquid container are dispelled without requiring anycomplicated valving or control by the user.

While a preferred embodiment has been described herein in which aningredient such as sodium bicarbonate to perform the cleansing functionis included as part of the ingredients to be utilized in chamber 82 itis ex pressly understood that the cleansing ingredient could be omittedfrom the ingredients utilized in chamber 82 and a liquid solution ofsodium bicarbonate or any other suitable physiologically inert solutionmay be added as a solution to container 12. ln that event only oneingredient such as citric acid need be provided in chamber 82 topressurize the container once contacted by the water to dispel thesolution.

Additionally, as noted above, the rate of the reaction to dispel theliquid contents completely from container 12 and the maximumpressurization attainable are de pendent upon several factors. A primaryfactor is the rate at which the liquid contacts and dissolves thepowdered ingredients. This can be controlled by use of a membraneenvelope which allows for a controlled rate of contact between theliquid and the powdered ingredients as described above or,alternatively, could be controlled by limiting the liquid flow path intochamber 82.

in this alternative method the size and number of the fluid access portsinto chamber 82 are limited so that water floods chamber 82 to reactwith the ingredients at a controlled rate. Since the rate of liquid flowinto chamber 82 is limited the ingredients need not be in an envelopebut may be placed within chamber 82 in loose form, for example byemptying a premeasured packet of ingredients into the chamber. Thus, theingredients may by packaged in a moisture resistant package and emptiedinto chamber 82 prior to use.

What is claimed is:

1. A package adapted to hold at least two separate ingredients whichreact in a liquid to evolve a gas, said package comprising,

a plurality of liquid porous membranes joined along at least asubstantial portion of the peripheral extent of the package to form atleast a pair of separate ingredient pouches,

predetermined quantities of said one ingredient and the other of saidingredients being disposed separately in said respective pouches, and

said package including means separate from the liquid porous property ofsaid membranes to provide for controlled dissolved solutes mixing tocause reaction and forming of gas over a short period of time when saidpackage is submerged in a liquid to insure a complete and rapid reactionbetween said ingredients and said liquid.

2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to providecontrolled dissolved solutes mixing to cause reaction and forming of gasover a short period of time between said ingredients and said liquidcomprises water soluble sealing means applied to at least a portion ofthe remainder of the peripheral extent of the package and wherein whensaid package is submerged in a liquid said water soluble sealing meansdissolves and the pressure of said gas evolved by the reaction of saidingredients opens said package along the remainder of the peripheralextent of the package to admit sufficient quantity of said liquid intosaid package to ensure complete and rapid dissolution of saidingredients.

3. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein one of said pouches isprovided with a flap foldable over the other of said pouches in at leasta portion of the remainder of said peripheral extent and said flap isbonded to said other pouch by a water soluble bonding medium.

4. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to providecontrolled solutes mixing between said ingredients and said liquidcomprises a plurality of punctures through said membranes to allow for acontrolled flow of liquid through said membranes to contact and dissolvesaid ingredients therein.

1. A package adapted to hold at least two separate ingredients whichreact in a liquid to evolve a gas, said package comprising, a pluralityof liquid porous membranes joined along at least a substantial portionof the peripheral extent of the package to form at least a pair ofseparate ingredient pouches, predetermined quantities of said oneingredient and the other of said ingredients being disposed separatelyin said respective pouches, and said package including means separatefrom the liquid porous property of said membranes to provide forcontrolled dissolved solutes mixing to cause reaction and forming of gasover a short period of time when said package is submerged in a liquidto insure a complete and rapid reaction between said ingredients andsaid liquid.
 2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said means toprovide controlled dissolved solutes mixing to cause reaction andforming of gas over a short period of time between said ingredients andsaid liquid comprises water soluble sealing means applied to at least aportion of the remainder of the peripheral extent of the package andwherein when said package is submerged in a liquid said water solublesealing means dissolves and the pressure of said gas evolved by thereaction of said ingredients opens said package along the remainder ofthe peripheral extent of the package to admit sufficient quantity ofsaid liquid into said package to ensure complete and rapid dissolutionof said ingredients.
 3. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein one ofsaid pouches is provided with a flap foldable over the other of saidpouches in at least a portion of the remainder of said peripheral extentand said flap is bonded to said other pouch by a water soluble bondingmedium.
 4. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to providecontrolled solutes mixing between said ingredients and said liquidcomprises a plurality of punctures through said membranes to allow for acontrolled flow of liquid through said membranes to contact and dissolvesaid ingredients therein.